Lacing or fastening boots, shoes, or the like



C. J. CLARKE March 19, 1935.

3 LACING 0R FASTENING BOOTS, snoms, OR THE LIKE Filed June 12', 1954 Fatentecl Mar. 19, 1935 LACIN G OR FASTENING BOOTS OR THE LIKE SHOES,

Charles J. Glarke, Kingsburg, Calif, Application June 12, 1934, Serial'No.i730,3il4' 16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in lacing or fastening boots, shoes, and the like, and is directed more particularly and specifically to a lacing means which obviates the use of open hooks such as are commonly used in connection with high-top shoes or boots.

l-Iooks as a portion of the fastening cr lacing means of boots and shoes have been found very objectionable in that they have a tendency to cut the fingers of the operator.

The present invention has been devised to provide a means to release the shoe or boot from the foot quickly and easily without having to unlace the boot or shoe.

A further object of the invention is to provide an easy and quick means of releasing a boot or shoe from the foot without any danger of cutting or otherwise mutilating the fingers. 7

Another object of the invention is to avoid having loose lacers or strings dangling from the boot or shoe when it is in an unlaced condition.

A still further object of theinvention is to provide a fastening or lacing means for boots and shoes which is not only convenient and reliable but is also cheap to make, easy of application and highly eifectual in performance of its functions.

Other specific objects, novel features of construction and improved results of the invention will appear in more detail from the following de- 30 scription when read in the light of the accompanying drawing.

There are numerous ways of carrying out my inventive idea and several of the methods as well as the particular constructional apparatus for accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a shoe showing the preferred embodiment vention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view illustrating the construction of the connecting loop and the eyelet with which it cooperates.

Fig. 3 is a detail View partly in section illustrating in detail the connection of the loop with the eyelet.

Fig. i is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a modified form-of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating the construction and operation of the connecting loop and the eyelet used in the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating a still further modified formof the invention.

carrying out my invention are illustrated in the Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner of adapting an ordinary hightop boot or shoe to practice my improved invention.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective viewof the connecting loop used in conjunction with the three forms of my invention as illustrated in Figures 4,

6 and '7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modified form of lacing a shoe of the construction illustrated in Figure l of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly Figures 1 to 3 thereof, 1 and 2 represent the upper portions of the shoe which are intended to be drawn together by a lace A.

ship as clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the draw ing.

The eyelets 3 atthe side l'of the shoe are provided with extending. tubular portions forming. loops or eyes 4 the open ends of Whichare arranged at right angles to the edge 5 of this shoeportion.

The eyelets 3 carried by the shoe top portion 2 are cash provided with loops or eyes 6 such as heretofore described in respect to the eyelets 10.

Referring particularly to Figure 3, D indicates a fastener formed with an eye or loop portion ,11 forming a lacepassageway and having a heartshaped portion 12 so as to provide what I have termed a tongue or hook 13. One of these fasteners D is provided for use in conjunction with each of the loops l. K g

In utilizing the invention it will be seen that the shoe is laced as indicated in Figure 1 of the drawing and that the fasteners D are carried on the lace A by means of the lace passing through the eye portion 11 of the fasteners.

The ends 8 and 9 of the lace A are threaded in criss-Cross form through the eyes 6 at the bottom of the shoe opening, thereafter passing alternately through an fastener D.

eye 6 and an eye 11 of the To secure the shoe tightly to the foot of the wearer the tongues 13 of the fastenerD are positioned within the open ends of the'loops 4 and the shoe lace then pulled tightly and tied as indicated In the formation of the connectors D the tongue portion 13 is bent to incline downwardly and inwardly with the result that it can be connected to and detached from the loops 4 only by elevating the eye portion 11 of the connector, as clearly illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3 of the drawing. This construction prevents an accidental detachment of the connector.

The arrangement of the eyes or loops 6 and 11 is such that the lacers are free from any possibility of being friction bound by pressure of the foot or ankle of the wearer of the shoe. This is of material importance in rendering it easy to tighten or loosen the lace.

In releasing the foot from the shoe this is quickly accomplished by untying the knot 14. The desired number of connectors can then be detached, as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, from the loops 4 to permit withdrawal of the foot from the shoe. These connectors are easily and quickly detached and when the shoe has been removed from the foot it will be found that there are no long dangling lace ends as is the case when shoes having the ordinary form of lacing are removed from the foot. Additionally there are no sharp edges to cut or mutilate the fingers as is the case in connection with shoes or boots utilizing open hooks.

Referring to Figure 4 which illustrates a modified form of the invention, 28 and 21 represent the two sides of the shoe upper. The side 20 carries 'the spaced eyelets 22 provided with extensions which form eyes or loops 23. The side 21 of the shoe is provided with spaced eyelets 24 having extensions forming eyes or loops 25 which are of identical construction as the loops 6 heretofore described in respect to the preferred form of the invention.

In this particular -modification the connectors E, see Figures 5 and 8, are formed with an eye 26 arr-extending portion 2'7 terminating in a hook 23 having a rounded end 29. This connector can be formed of wire, metal or any other material suitable for such use. Just as in connection with the preferred form of the invention the lace A is threaded in a criss-cross manner alternately passing through an eye. 25 at one side of the shoe and a loop 26 of a connectorE at the other side of the shoe. are inserted in the eyes or loops 23 of the eyelets 22 and the shoe upper secured tightly about the foot of the wearer by pulling the: lace and tying it at the top of the shoe as is clearly indicated in Figure 1 of the drawing.

To release the shoe from the foot it is necessary 7 only to untie the knot in the lace and disconnect the connectors E with the eyes or loops 23. This modified form of the invention is'merely illustrative of another specific construction 'of the invention and functions just as does the'preferred form of the invention.

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawing illustrating a still further modification of the invention, 30 and 31 indicate the two ,sides of the shoe upper. These shoe portions carry the eyelets 32 in spaced relationship and these eyelets have extensions formed into loops or eyes 33 which are of a construction exactly similar to the eyes 6 of the pre-v ferred form of the invention and the eyes 25 described in respect to the modification illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing.

In connection with this form of the invention the connector E, already described in connection with the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5, is utilized. The main difierence in this The hooked ends 28 of the connectors form of the invention over the other forms of the invention resides in the fact that the end or side 34 of the lace A is threaded alternately through loops 33, at the shoe side 31, and the loops 26 of the fastener E. The lace end 35 passes only through the eyes or loops 33 at the shoe side 30 with the result that this end of the lace parallels the edge of the shoe side 30 at the open portion of the shoe.

The hooked portions 29 of the connectors E each engage the lace and 35 at a point intermediate two of the eyes 33. To tighten the shoe upon the foot of the wearer the lace ends are pulled and knotted at the top of the shoe, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing. To release the shoe it is necessary only to untie the lace knot and disengage the hooked portions of the connectors E from the lace end 35. This can be readily and easily accomplished so that the shoe'can be'easily and quickly removed from the foot.

Figure 7 is a further modification of the present invention and illustrates an easy manner of adapting an ordinary shoe construction to praced as illustrated and described in respect to Figure 6 of the drawing. The same connectors E are used and the manner of securing the shoe to and releasing the shoe from the foot is the same as described in respect to that form of the invention appearing in Figure 7 of the drawing. H

By bending the hooks 40 into theform of loops 7 the objectionable featureof the hooks is obviated to some extent and by the use of the connectors.

E the shoe can be easily and quickly secured to and detached from the foot. Furthermore the long dangling and undesirable lace ends, when the shoe is oif the foot, are done away with.

Attention is directed to the fact that in connection withall forms of the invention the lace never passes to the under side or inner side of the shoe top and as a consequence any possibility of friction on the lace by the shoe is avoided, thus assuring free movement of the lace in tightening and loosening the shoe. I

In connection with the form of the invention shown in Figure '7 attention is called to the fact.

that the shoe lace end 42 could be tied at the top and bottom of its side of the shoe and that in tightening and loosening the shoe this would be accomplished by manipulation of only shoe lace end 41.

Attention is also called to the fact thatco-nnectors D are so formed that they receive the tube-like portions of the loops 4: and that the side walls of the connectors closely parallel the side walls of the tubes when the tongues 13 are placed in connective relation with the loops. The result of this construction is such as to overcome any possibility of the connectorsrbecoming released from the tubes through any rocking motion. It is also to be specifically noted that when the connectors are in engagement with the loops 4 they can not be disconnected by a mere horizontal movement because the opening of the connector is not sufliciently long to permit disengagement of the tongue with the loop by a mere horizontal movement. To disengage a of lacin shoes and has all the advantages heretofore enumerated in the foregoing description. Figure 9 of the drawing illustrates a modified form of lacing the shoe illustrated in Figure 1 of v the drawing. In this form of the invention the eyelets 3 at one side of the shoe opening are positioned opposite the spaces between'the eyelets 10 at the opposite side of the shoe openingrather than having the eyelets at both sides of the shoe opening directly in line'with one another. In all other respects the modified form of the invention is identical with the form illustrated in Figure 1, that is to say, the same con nectors D are utilized in conjunction with the loops 4 of the eyelets Band the eyelets 10 are each provided with a loop or eye 6: The -con-' nectors D have the loop portion 11 just as is true in respect to Figure 1 form of the invention. The shoe lace however is threaded differently in this form of the invention as it will clearly appear that the lace end 8 is alternately threaded through a loop 6 of an eyelet llland a loop 11 of the 'connector D while the other end 9 of the lace parallels the side of the shoe opening and extends in a straight line through the loops 11 of the connectors Dfrom the bottom of the shoe opening to the top of said opening. By threading the lace in this manner both ends of the lace pass through the loops 11 of the connectors D yet I have found that there is no tendency of the lace to bind and there is adequate freedom of movement of the lace when the connectors D are disconnected for removal of the foot from the shoe.

I claim:

1. In a boot or shoe, flaps to be interconnected for securing the shoe on a foot, each flap adjacent its vertical edges being provided with eyes arranged in separated vertical alignment, a connector having an eye and a hook portion, a lace having its ends alternately threaded through the eyes carried by one shoe flap and the eyes of the connectors, and the hooks of the con'nectors'detaohably secured within the eyes carried by the other shoe fia for the purpose described.

2. In a boot or shoe having a slitted front to provide means for inserting a foot in the shoe, eyes arranged in separated vertical alignment at one side of the slit and lying wholly in front of the shoe, eyes at the other side of the slit and positioned opposite and in horizontal alignment with the first named eyes, a connector having an eye in one end and a downwardly turned hook portion at its opposite end, a lace having its ends alternately threaded through the eyes at one side of the shoe opening and through the eyes of the connectors, and the hooks of said connectors detaohably secured to the eyes at the opposite sideof the shoe opening, whereby the lace lies wholly at the front of the shoe and serves as a means for tightening the shoe upon a foot.

3. In a boot or shoe having a slitted front to provide means for the insertion of a foot in the shoe, eyes arranged in separated vertical alignment at one side of the slit and lying wholly in front of the shoe, eyes arranged at the other side of the slit and positioned opposite the first named eyes and also lying wholly in front of the shoe, the openings of the eyes at one side being at right angles to the eyes at the other side, a

sageway, a lace [having its ends alternately threadedthrough the eyes at one side of the slit and the connector passageways, said connectors provided with an opening for the rece'ptionof the eyes at the other side of the slit. and having a portionextending inwardly'into said connector opening for detachable connection with said eyes,

whereby the lace serves as a means of tightening the shoe upon a foot. 1

4. In a boot or shoe having a slitted front to provide means for the insertion of a foot in the shoe, eyelets arranged in separated vertical alignment at each side of said slit, the eyelets at one side of the slit having extending portions forming eyes lying wholly in front of the shoe to form passageways for the reception of a' shoe lace, the eyelets at the opposite side of the slit having extending portions forming eyes the openings of which are horizontally disposed, a series of 'connectors having vertically disposed passageways for the reception of a shoe lace and having tongues adapted for detachable connection with the eyes at one side of the slit, and a shoe lace having its ends alternately threaded through the eyes at the opposite side of the slit and through the connector lacepassageways, for the purpose described.

'5. For use with a laced boot or shoe having aslitted front having eyes arranged adjacentone edge of the slit, a connector having an eye for the passage of the shoelace and a hook portion for detachable connection with the eyes at the side of the slitted shoe front.

6. In a boot or shoe having a slitted front tov provide means for the insertion of a foot in the shoe, eyes at one side of the slit for the reception of a shoe lace, eyes at the other side of the slit for detachably receiving a connector, a series of connectors each of which is provided with a lace passageway and an opening for the reception of one of said eyes, said connector having an inwardly and downwardly extending tongue adapted for detachable connection with one of said eyes, and a shoe lace threaded through the shoe eyes and the passageways of the connectors for tightening the shoe upper upon a foot.

7. In a boot or shoe having a slitted front to provide means for the insertion of a foot in the shoe, eyes arranged in separated vertical aligned relation at the opposite edges of the slit, connectors having a lace passageway and provided with a hooked end, a shoe lace having one end threaded alternately through the eyes at one side of the slit and the connector lace passageways'and having its other end threaded through the eyes at the opposite side of the slit, and the hooked ends of the connectors having engagement with the last named end of the lace at points intermediate the eyes through which said lace passes, whereby the lace serves as a medium for tightening the shoe upper upon a foot.

8. In a construction such as defined in claim series of connectors each provided .with-a pas- 7, wherein the shoe lace is disposed wholly at.

wherein the tongue is bent downwardly to extend into a plane below the planes of the walls making up said second opening.

11. For use with a laced boot or shoe, a connector, said connector composed of an endless piece of wire the free ends of which are brought into parallelism and bent to form an eye, said wire intermediate its length having portions paralleling one another to form an opening, and a portion of the wire which interconnects said named parallel portions being crimped to form a tongue which extends into said opening.

, 12. A construction such as defined in claim 11, wherein the tongue in addition to extending into the opening is bent downwardly to extend below the plane of the walls forming the opening.

13. In a boot or shoe having a slitted front to provide means for the insertion of a foot in the shoe, eyes arranged in separated vertical alignment at one side of the slit and lying wholly in front of the shoe, tubular members arranged in spaced vertical alignment at the other side of the opening, connectors having passageways for a shoe lace, said connectors being formed with an opening adapted to receive the tube-like mem:

bers and having side walls closely paralleling the side walls of the tubes when the connectors are placed over the tubes, said connectorsfurther provided with a tongue extending inwardly into the tubes and adapted for detachable connection with the openings of the tubes, and a shoe lace having its ends alternately threaded through the eyes at one side of the shoe opening and the lace passageways of the connectors, whereby the lace serves as a means of tightening the shoe upon a foot. 1

14. A construction such as defined in claim 13, wherein the connector tongues are bent downwardly.

- 15. :In a boot or shoe, flaps to be interconnected for securing the shoe one foot, each flap adjacent its vertical edges being provided with eyes arranged in separated vertical alignment, a connector having an eye and a hook portion, a lace having one of its ends alternately threaded through the eyes carried by one shoe flap and,

the eyes of the connector, the other end of the lace threaded only through the eyes of the connector, and the hooks of the connector detachably secured within the eyes carried by the other shoe fiap, for the purpose described.

16. In a boot or shoe having a slitted front to provide means for. inserting a foot in the shoe, eyes arranged in separated vertical alignment at one side of the slit and lying wholly in front of the shoe, eyes at the other side of the slit and also arranged in separated vertical alignment and lying wholly in front of the shoe, a connector havingan eye and a portion adapted or connection at one side of the shoe slit, and a lace for interconnecting the edges of the slits and pulling them towards one another, said lace having one of its ends alternately threaded through the eyes carried at one side of the slit and the eyes of theconnectors.

CHARLES J. CLARKE. 

